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Russell J rules brain-damaged 1 year old should have life support withdrawn

Law Reporter

An NHS Trust has
applied to the High Court for permission to withdraw treatment in respect of a 1-year-old
boy. The boy suffered profound irreversible brain damage and specialists
informed the court that it was in his best interests to have life-sustaining
intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, withdrawn.

The parents opposed
the application, claiming that treating clinicians did not have the right to end
the boy’s life because he had brain damage.

At a hearing in the
High Court on Monday 29 September 2014, Russell J granted the application, after
balancing the boy’s best interests against his parents’ views, ‘very sadly’ and
with ‘great reluctance’.

A reporting restriction
order was put in place preventing the identification of the boy, his parents
and the Trust. The latter restriction would remain in place for
the remainder of the boy’s life.